X-Fi Titanium Fatality series

[Ghouler]

I have seen this on pocket-lint today. Apparently Creative launched two PCI-e sound cards meant for gamers. Both use the PCI-e bus and genuine X-Fi chip and give the benefit of single-wire digital connection (Dolby Digital Encoding of the in-game audio, including EAX HD effects). See for yourself here:
http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/n...er-x-fi-titanium.phtml

 

[bigsnyder]

Like to know about more of what is under the hood.

 

[DyslexicHobo]

Eh, it seems like it's all hype to me. I mean really, how much better can it get? Meeting the needs of hardcore gamers? Sound quality is the least of my worries when I'm playing a fast-paced shooter. Precise positioning is by far the most important, which most high-end PCI card can already do very well with the right set of cans. I don't really understand how PCI-Express could be THAT much different.

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

Same crap regurgitated. Now that asus (I think it is) is licensing the x-fi technology, all of creative's crap is being shown up. What I hate beyond all else with the x-fi cards isn't the crappy support for software/drivers- it is the lack of the front-panel audio connector

 

[ViRGE]

It's nice to finally have a PCIe X-Fi, but Creative really should have released a PCIe version of the XtremeGamer, the cheapest X-Fi right now. The X-Fi is a big step up, but once you have the X-Fi processor and the great analog components that come on even the cheap X-Fi, there's not a lot of room for improvement. The more expensive X-Fi's have always been overpriced compared to the cheap one considering how little of an improvement they offer, so it's disappointing that Creative is starting off the PCIe X-Fi line at $150. The XtremeGamer is only $70 or so at the Egg.

Comdrpopnfresh: the newer X-Fi's do have a front panel audio connector. And Asus isn't licensing Creative's tech.

 

[Quiksilver]

Why not just...

link right to the products...

The only things that really appear to be *new* just from the information creative provided, is just the Dolby Digital Encoding, PCI-Express, color-coded audio ports, and EMI shielding. I'm not seeing anything new otherwise. Now if only they can make some *proper* drivers...


Edit:

Originally posted by: ViRGE
Comdrpopnfresh: the newer X-Fi's do have a front panel audio connector. And Asus isn't licensing Creative's tech.

The creative FPA connector is proprietary last time I checked and...

Actually... they are...
http://en.hardspell.com/doc/showcont.asp?news_id=3343

 

[TC91]

tbh the emi shield (and the black) makes the card look pretty sweet. but i am disappointed they have not improved the specs/sound quality compared to the pci versions (still 109db snr so i assume they are still using the same DAC's from before). maybe auzentech can put out a prelude (or whatever they decide to call it) on pci-express pretty soon now that creative has got their real x-fi's working on pci-express.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: Quiksilver

Originally posted by: ViRGE
Comdrpopnfresh: the newer X-Fi's do have a front panel audio connector. And Asus isn't licensing Creative's tech.

The creative FPA connector is proprietary last time I checked and...

They've been using the standard FPA connector starting with the XtremeGamer and all later cards.

Actually... they are...
http://en.hardspell.com/doc/showcont.asp?news_id=3343

[/quote]I was speaking in respect to the Xonar; Asus didn't license anything from Creative for their EAX emulator, and Creative isn't very happy about it.

That's the first time I've seen that specific product though. From what I've read it's not actually using the X-Fi hardware however(Creative like the morons they are have turned X-Fi in to a brand, usually devices that use their "crystalizer" dynamic EQ) but rather an Analog Devices chip.

 

[Quiksilver]

Originally posted by: ViRGE
They've been using the standard FPA connector starting with the XtremeGamer and all later cards.

No wonder, I haven't paid much attention the their cheaper variant cards, but it does seem they added it to these new fatality cards. At least they are starting to try to fix their products... very very slowly...

That's the first time I've seen that specific product though. From what I've read it's not actually using the X-Fi hardware however(Creative like the morons they are have turned X-Fi in to a brand, usually devices that use their "crystalizer" dynamic EQ) but rather an Analog Devices chip.

I'm not sure about it myself either gotta wait until p45 launches to find more details.

 

[vainster]

Looks like the cards are available for pre-order.. frankly speaking, I really like the color and I/O drive with easily accessible controls like the volume and game mode

 

[biostud]

There's also the ASUS xonar for $89 if you want to avoid Creative.

http://www.hothardware.com/Art...Express_71_Audio_Card/

 

[Oyeve]

PCIE, in-game DD, and built-in optical. Sounds like a winner to me. Finally can get DD from my games, although analog 5.1 has been fine for me since I got my X-fi years ago. But one optical cable instead of the cluster I have now is sweet. Needs to be cheaper and for Gods sake lose the Fatality name crap! UG!

 

[Pariah]

Happened to see one of these for the first time while browsing Newegg today. Any reviews of these anywhere? Kind of interesting aspect of the drive bay (not available at Newegg yet), that if you don't need the RCA connectors, you can remove that part and the remaining part will squeeze into an otherwise useless external 3.5" bay.

 

[1ManArmY]

anyone know the proper way to hook up the front panel analog and digital connector's? I had them hooked up and it interfered with Vista recognizing the X-fi soundcard and it would only detect my onboard HD audio. I finally disconnect the front panel connector's and then Vista 64 detected the X-fi just fine.

 

[imported_Scoop]

Haha!

Sorry I just can't help but laugh whenever I see Fatal1ty in a product name. Haha!

 

[1ManArmY]

Originally posted by: Scoop
Haha!

Sorry I just can't help but laugh whenever I see Fatal1ty in a product name. Haha!

No sweat, found a diagram on the web and analog and digital cables are hooked up and all is well. My Klipsch speaker's are rocking.